davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
NATURAL Gas AND "BOOMS.n


A word of caution concerning our possible
and potential natural-gas boom may not be
out Of place. The chances are strongly in
favor of gas being found either quite near the
city or within easy piping distance We shall
probably know inside of two weeks. If found
let us not lose our heads. J. will be very
valuable discovery, and cannot fail to add i'm
mensely to the material prosperity of the city,
but much will depend on how the event is
handled and utilized. 1t is to be hoped there
will be no attempt to manufacture real
estate Gloom" If any comes. let it come
naturally We know, of course, that there
will be a temptation to real-estate owners to
charge up a big advance at once, and ask fancy
prices. There are many who want to see the
days of 1928 return, but they are men with
large lots of ground on their hands, who want
to unload at high figures. Not many bust
ness men of sagacity desire return of those
ballooning days They would work harm and
drive away capital and enterprise. Our CEN
trail location and railroad facilities, with nat
ural gas added, will make Indianapolis very
attractive point for manufacturers, and if
these advantages are rightly utilized the city
will undoubtedly become great manufacture
ing center But if the price of real estate is
doomed up to fancy figures it will go far to
counteract the natural gas attraction. There
is, at present, lively competition in the nat
ural-gas business. A number of good towns
in Indiana have secured an abundant supply,
and are holding out substantial inducements
to manufacturers in the way of
donations of lands, low taxes. etc. Capital is
now directed toward this State, and some
pretty large investments have already been
made from outside. This tendency will in
crease as the facts become more widely known,
but the rivaly among different towns will in
crease also, and the one that can offer most
advantages will reap the most benefit. In all
essential respects this city can, of course,
offer greater advantages than any other point
in the State, and if we get natural gas there
will be strong impulse of capital in this d.
rection. It would be great mistake to check
this impulse. either by putting a prohibitory
price on real estate or developing fever that
will cause such an expansion as We had in
1879 and from which it has taken fifteen
years to recover. The city had just about
enough vitality to work through the effects of
that craze, but another such experience might
result in complete disaster The concluding
portion Of the lecture of Professor j. NJ.
Coulter on natural gas, elsewhere printed, is
full of sensible, practical advice, and it comes
from man Of science, and therefore a man
of facts. The Professors lecture and caution
should be read by everyone in Indiana.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

CHICAGO, April 16-A special to the Journal
from Milwaukee says:
Quite a sensation was created in G. A. R.
circles this morning by the receipt of the follow
ing order By wire from the grand commander of
Wisconsin,
"HEADQUARTERs DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN !
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
EAU CLAIRE April Is.
Posts of this department cautioned against re-
spending to recent circulars from the New York Trb
une. Furnish} no such information unless applca
ton therefor approved by national or department
headquarters. Such for your benefit should
emanate from those having your interests in charge
and not from strangers. NJ. GRIFFIN
Department Commander
There is some political deal behind the mat
tor, and it is believed the order is the beginning
Of q laree-sized row."
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
MINOR MENTION.

THE Confederate Colonel is the title of
paper about to appear in Austin, Tex. 1t is not
intended as political organ. the suspicious
might infer. but is merely trap to catch the
easily 1attered individuals whose name it bears
The prospectus explains this choice of title by
the frank and somewhat remarkable statement
that ''the editors and proprietors of the Colonel
have carefully kept account of all prominent
gatherings held in the United States during the
past twenty years, and find that more than six
seventies of all men present on these occasions
were military heroes, and that of all the distin-
guished soldiers who took part in the war on
either side, and who are ever mentioned, more
than four ifths were 'colonels.' This fact cast
the deciding vote and our paper named
Colonel 1t is plainly the expectation of the
founders of the enterprise that every confeder-
ate colonel will become subscriber to the new
paper at the earliest opportunity; and certainly
no one of them refuse to acknowledge the
delicate attention by so recognizing his name.
sake without being open to charge of shame
less ingratitude. 1t is reasonable to suppose
that the expectations of the editors will be real
lied in this respect and on the basis OF their
calculations as to the number Of those officers in
existence it follows that the circulation of the
Colonel will be enormous, and that it will be
truly phenomenal success from the start just
to the extent that the military heroes in time
of peace outnumber any other class of citizens,
the new paper will exceed in popularity any trade
journal or other special publication. The orig
inator of the idea deserves, if he has not already
adopted it, tina title of colonel himself
THE growing pr evidence of cigarettesmoking
amorg the young men and boys of to-day is a
matter Of serious concern. Aside from its fool
ishness. fthiness and expensiveness, it is posi-
lively injurious. Smoking is far more injurious
to young persons in the growing or formative
period than it Is to older persons 1t stunts the
| growth, retards Development and enervates body
| and mind. If IL becomes national habit among
| the young it will affect the national physique
| and character. As practical proof to the point,
| we may state that the United States navy annu-
ally receives large number of boys who are
trained for its service. Hundreds of candidates
for its service are rejected because of bodily
| infrmity. A naval officer, who is IN position to
know. says that one-ffth of all the boys exam
| ined are rejected on account of heart disease.
| The first question to boy who desires to enlis,
| is, DO you smoker The examining surgeons
say that cigarette smoking produces heart disease
in boys, and that in ninety nine cases out of ons
| hundred. whore this disease has caused the re
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

or. perhaps, meet with immediate punish
nent Nothing Of the kind took place. A circum-
stance that lends confirmation to NJ. Katkoifs
statement that the peaceful policy pursued by
NJ. De Giers is opposed TO the wishes and aims
of the Gar The one undoubted fact. and the
most curious of all. is. that newspaper editor
inIa country where populs. opinion. however
strong it may be in directing policy. has no pow
er in protecting individuals. should obtain such
a position and should be able to overturn SONS
ministers and flout others with impunity. What
the secret of NJ. Katoff's power is, one can with
difficulty guess Probably it is strong and
magnetic personality, combined with immense
patriotic enthusiasm. NJ. Katkoff appears to be
able. on the one hand. to retain the condolences
and friendship Of the Gar. and on the other to
secure the regard and affection Of the multitude.
Such position as his must be one of enormous
responsibility and of great danger. Among the
many triumphs of journalism. he IS perhaps. the
most dramatic, though probably not the most
serviceahle
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

A ST. LOUIS MILLIONAIRE.

The meanest man heard from this season
belongs to St. Louis. That is to say, he did
hail from there. He is dead now, and may
have sought more salubrious climate. When
he was alive he kept little shoeshop, and
by his surroundings and expenditures gave
no indication of being the possessor of great
wealth. The impression among his friends,
however, was that he had untold treasures
concealed about his premises, and on that &C
count he was regarded by them with defer
entail interest which added greatly to his
enjoyment of life. Concerning the actual
worth of his possessions he was very reticent,
but the presence of a large iron safe in his
room, and the care which he took to allow no
one to catch glimpse Of its interior, encour-
aged the belief that he made shoes merely for
pastime, and might be q gentleman of leisure
with enough money in his pocket to meet the
demands of at least one in ten of the st. Louis
subscription papers. Finally the shoemaker
died, and his eager heirs came with the ap-
praisers and administrator to take an invento-
ry of the property, and to see that they were
not robbed by each other. Nothing but rub
bish was found in the rooms and expectation
centered in the safe. With much difficulty
this repository was opened, and in breathless
silence the spectators watchedtthe withdrawal
of the valuables. A variety of articles were
brought out. There were hymn books, emp
ty whisky TASKS; tattered books, of no account
to anyone an accumulation of worthless doc
uments. including the papers Of a breach Of
promise case in which the deceased had once
been defendant; an endless tumble of rags,
tags and rubbish, and $40 in cash. The long
concealed treasure about which so much mys-
terry had gathered amounted to $40, and the
closest search could make it no more. 1t was
cruel blow to the expectant heirs and they
went sadly away with the ruins of beautiful
air-castles falling about them, and their
dreams Of future ease and luxury slowly CIV
ing way to the sad realities which required
return to the old method Of grubbing for a
living Before they dance attendance on an
other supposed millionaire these disappointed
ones will demand look % the interior of his
strong box. They are toe, Ely" to be caught
again by the outside of safe
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

to home, church and state would sink into in
nocuous nothingness without the rocking
chair. Let your Spaniard make love hang
ing out of balconies and whisper
ing through lattices; your Venetian
padding ABOUT in his sloppy gondolas; your
Frenchman, over his dainty wine-table on his
dazzling boulevard. or in his gilded salon;
your Dutchman, over the foam of his beer, or
through tie twists of his pretzels; your Irish
man, at his fairs or his mass and vespers;
your Scotchman, amid his banks and braes or
winding through the heather; your English
man. under his umbrella or dawdling down
his primrose spangled lanes; but true Amer
lean counting the genuine article, cannot go
on without the rocking-chair. Like the art of
letters, it must surely have been invented Of
heaven for some bashful lovers aid, that he
might. by apparently unintentional, yet
secretly determined hitching, draw himself
nearer to his charming fair. Who will write
on the chronicles of the rocking-chair, with
statistical evidences as to tagging proposals
brought to happy examinations by cozy fire.
sides on winter nights, or on friendly piazzas
on moon-lit summer eves9 This valuable
piece Of furniture not only sees the love-
stricken safely through the enchanted valley
of their courtship days, but when they ara
satisfactorily ''wood, welded, and a, it is
still cherished as an indispensable adjunct of
the family veal. Pray tell us, Sir Medical
Oracle, how are babies to be won to slumber
without the rocking-chair2 Is the coming
man, after weary days at the bread butter
MILL to spend his nights in pacing the carpet
to the pacifcation of his bowling heir or
heiressg Go to, ye doctors, you don't know
what you are talking about
while man has any breath to spare
He'll shout, Long live the rocking chair."
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
EDITOR KATKOFF.
Russian Whose Influence Is Second Only
to that of the Ruler of the Empire

Russian Whose Influence Is Second Only
to that of the Ruler of the Empire
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, April 16-The announcement that
an entente cordiale has beer established by the
Car betlmen NJ. De Giers, the Russian Foreign
Minister, and NJ. Katkoff, the editor of the
Moscow Gazette, is received with some miseiv-
ing in diplomatic circles. Pessimists claim that
if this is 80, it forebodes the adoption of more
vigorous foreign policy by Russia at an early
date, while optimists End very little comfort in
this friendship. Few persons in well-informed
circles believe that NJ. De Giers can continue in
Office many weeks longer without adopting NJ.
katkoffs warlike policy. The activity Of the
Nihilsts will undoubtedly hasten the
change, as the Gar knows he need
have no fear of bombs long as
Russia is engaged in There are
those who believe that the participation of so
many soldiers in the recently attempted out
RACES indicates that the army is tired of having
nothing to do. NJ. Katkof represents the JinGo
feeling in Russia. and, next to the Gar yields
the most power in the empire. This extraor-
binary man, in some way or other, has obtained
a kind of ascendency over the Gar. who has
permitted him. in his journal, to express
opinions for which any other newspaper in
Russia would be suspended and its conductors
possibly sent to Siberia Some, time ago III.
Katkoff determined to overthrow the Minister
of Finance and, by means OF repeated attacks
in the Moscow Gazette. SO prevailed upon
public feeling and the mind of the
Gear that the official in question was actually
superseded He recently began a campaign
against NJ. de Giers. who mas so far piloted Rus
ria through very troubled waters, but NJ. Kat
koff is not satisfied. The great editor detests
and abhors Germany and German influence Ap-
parently he has made up his mind to break
down that semi dependence upon Russia which
has existed more or less since the time of Peter
the Great He mas attacked with vehemence
almost amounting to ferocity the foreign policy
OF the government, and has INDUCED in uncom-
plimentary observations concerning Prince Bis
marck and the German empire. Strange to say,
he has beer allowed to do this with impunity.
When his first article upon foreign policy ap-
peared. the other day. every one expected
that he would at least receive . warning
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

lection of those applying for positions in the
navy, it has been brought on by the excessive
use of tobacco. This statement is based not
upon theory, but upon the results of actual ex-
aminations going on day after day and month
after month.
IT seems that the prominent young society
lady of Pittsbure who opened the summer SEN
sation season this week by being chloroformed
and having her beautiful golden hair cut off by
peddler, tempted the robber by answering the
door bell before she had completed her toilet and
with her hair streaming over the shoulders of
her Mother Hubbard. Society bellies Of other cities
who wish to avoid rape of the lock will take
warning by this, and, before proceeding to the
front door, take the precaution to skewer their
tresses into the unattractive 'doorknob, or else
to leave them safely hanging upon q boudoir
chair back.
THE ieaven of the Indiana Authors Associa-
ton is beginning to work. Away off in Boston
movement is on foot for the establishments of
similar organization, the call to the prelim-
mary meeting being followed by such names as
o. W. Holmes, James Russell Lowell and T. B.
Aldrich Rev. Arthur W. Eaton is, however
imbued with the spirit of progress and enter
prise during former period of residence in this
city, and association with authors who are of q
practical, wide-awake turn. Indianapolis will
be the making of Boston in an intellectual way
yet
THE young women who stayed away from
church last Sunday because they had no Easter
toggery. and the other young women who NOR
tilted the flesh By wearing their old clothes,
might have saved themselves much vexation of
spirit had they been aware OF the latest edict
from fashion authorities. to-wit that the old
custom of coming out in something brand new
for Easter Sunday is 'ooth out Of ate and out
of style" Next year they will know better.
THE secretary of the water works and men,
Der of the fire department are quoted as giving
why it is not practicable for the fire de-
partment to sprinkle the streets. OF course it
is not practicable from their standpoint All
the same however. it could and ought to be
DONE
THE School Board wanted to scale the teachers
salaries down. but had not quite the courage. It
will be lasting shame and disgrace to the city
if this mode of retrenchment is adopted while
the expensive German excrescence remains with
out interference
MEMBERS of the fire department are promptly
coming forward with reasons why they should
not be called upon to sprinkle the streets. This
was to be expected. The reasons why they
should sprinkle them are more and weightier
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
Cut to Pieces by Railway Trains.

NV ROCHELLE. N. Y, April 16-This morn
ing one of the strangest accidents occurred here
that has ever been witnessed by railroad men.
An unknown man, while walking along the
track. was struck by a freight train and his body
was thrown upon the pilot of the engine where
it lay until Larchmont was reached There it
fell to the road bed and both feet were cut off.
Another train on tho opposite track struck the
unfortunate man. and once more he Was hurled
up on the pilot, and lay there until New Rochelle
was again reached, where the body rolled of,
aud the frank fell under the wheels a second
time. When the train moved it was seen that
only the headless trunk remained after tho ter
rible bnffeting it had received. No enc was
found to tell who tho man was
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.


Afghanistan's Central Asian Frontier ana
tho Anxiety It IL Causing In Europe.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON, Apri! 16.-The situation on the cen.
trail Asian frontier Of AfRhanistan is causing
her Maiesty's Ministers considerable anxiety.
There has been much telegrsphing between
Downing street. Calcutta and St Petersburg
during the past week, and every scrap of infor-
nation which can be obtained is wired promptly
to London by Lord Dufferin, Viceroy of India,
or Sir R. D. Mo1ier. the British ambassador at
St Petersburg Any disturbance between the
Ameer of Afghanstan and outsiders is fraught
with grave potentialities.
Intelligence has been received at Bombay that
q body OF the Ameer Of Afghanistan's troops
made night attack upon force of the Ghilzai
rebels and killed 200 of them. Several villages
in the disturbed district of Afghapistan have
been destroyed by fire. A number of other
tribes than the Ghilzais are joining in the rebel
lion against the authority of the Ameer It
Is reported that the Russians are moving by slow
stages towards Zulfcar, which place is about lao
miles north west Of Herat
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

the Councils and of the city officers has been
called time and again to some of these abuses,
but in vain. For some reason or other, the
street-railway company is exempt from official
surveillance or municipal control, while
everything it asks for is given unquestion-
ingly and ungrudgingly. As the Journal has
before said, there will come time when the
run of things will be changed
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
Successful Navigation of the Air.

BERLIN. April 10 Successful experiments
have been made at Metz with nayigable bal
loon, propelled by an electric motor. The Augs-
berg Allgemeine Zoitung says the balloon is the
invention of German engineer named Welker.
who for some time was employed in America,
where he perfected his discovery. The German
government. the paper says. has bought the in
ventiop, paving Tor it 1000, 900 marks down and
and another 100000 which is to be paid in in
stallments The speed Of the balloon exceeds
that of a railway train and it may be stopped
and directed at will, moving against the wind.
Whatever truth there may be in the report it is
certain that the residents of Metz are now light
" startled by an electric illumination lowering
at great height over their houses
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
Cable Notes.

Croru Prince Frederick Williams throat
trouble is growing worse and Is attended by
symptoms of chronic liberation. All remedies
have thus far failed
Emperor William gave musical soiree at the
Palace, at Berlin, on Thursday. at which Count
Won Moltke, the state ministers and one hmm
dred guests we're present. Though the Emperor
had held q long conference with Count Herbert
Bismarck aud other ministers the same day be
remained throughout the concert and was full OF
life.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

THE School Board wanted to scale the teachers
salaries down. but had not quite the courage. It
will be a lasting shame and disgrace to the city
if this mode of retrenchment is adopted while
the expensive German excrescencs remains with
ont interference.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

MEMBERS of the fire department are promptly
coming forward with reasons why they should
not be called upon to sprinkle the streets. This
was to be expected. The reasons why they
should sprinkle them are more and weightier.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

lection of those applying for positions in the
navy, it has been brought on by the excessive
use of tobacco This statement is based not
upon theory, but upon the results of actual ex-
aminations going on day after day and month
after month.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-21
RuLss FoR eETTINa RIcH.

The best merchant is be whose business
talent is Of the highest order and improved
to the highest pitch
OF all quarels, the most sensaless, the
most bottles, the most worrying, Is "a quarrel
with your circum=.aroes
Every man bas threo characters that
which be exhibits, that which he has and
that which be thinks DE has.
Hall OF the heavy hearts and broken spirits
and slcep.css eyes among our merchants
might be spared We're they only willing TO
conform their appearances 90 their substance.
Many merchants objec, too much, consult
too long, advertise too lttle, and seldom
drive business home TO the iuil period, but
content themselves with a meolocrIty ot
success.
Some men seem 10 take failure quite COM
lortably they stop and so on again, without
changing their style OF living UP lowering
their heads That is a feat that no honest
business man can admire.
In business there are many who cannot
rise many who cannot help descending,
many who Of necessity lail, many who earn
their bread. and many who only waste II
when once in their own hands.
Great merit or great falings viii make
You respected or deapised, but triles, little
attentions mere nothings, either done or
neglected, Will make you either liked or dis
liked In the general run OF the world
The true merchant is not the man who best
understands his bushes and conuIves 10
bargain others out OF their reasonable profits,
but he who best understands his business
and never takes advantage of any mans L.
norance or any mans necessity.
Leading articles in commerce, like lead
ing articles in journalism, are meant 20 make
q character for the whole. But IL is ques-
tionable whether merchant is justified IN
taking such modes Of attracting the atten-
ton Of the public unless he has actmal adj
yantages 70 otIer.-New York Mail and LIZ
rYl..